States face the ongoing challenge of managing the costs of their Medicaid programs while ensuring beneficiaries have access to quality health care. A more rigorous purchasing approach can help states better control costs without sacrificing quality or access to care. The Medicaid Health Care Purchasing Compendium (Compendium) is intended to serve as a reference guide for states when purchasing health care services for their Medicaid programs, whether through managed care organizations or directly from health care providers. This practical resource focuses on managed care contracting as it continues to become the predominant mode in Medicaid for purchasing health and long-term care services. The Compendium also includes information on emerging models of direct provider contracting such as accountable care organizations and other integrated care models.
